Recently a couple of people on YouTube and Patreon have asked me about the wall behind me in my videos. So, I figured I’d do a little yoga 101 and share the inside scoop on yoga walls. We’ll discuss what is a yoga wall, why you’d want to use one and equipment, exercises and poses. Plus a couple of bonus fitness uses. Not gonna lie, I had a ton of fun making this video, although my home studio was pretty messy after with so much equipment out!
If you can’t view the embedded video above, you can view the video on YouTube. Maybe add it to a playlist? Above all, remember to subscribe to my channel. New videos are uploaded regularly. However, for exclusive longer format videos sign up for my Patreon community. Each month we explore poses, transitions, and trouble areas. Patrons also get early access to all my videos, along with lots of other benefits. You join today for as little as $1 a month.
Disclosure: Links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the product links and purchase a product, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!
What is a yoga wall?
There are many ways to use a wall in yoga, but the yoga wall itself is quite different from a regular wall. Firstly it’s pulled away from the regular wall a couple of inches. This is to allow for the attachment. recesses, or holes.
There are companies that make and install the yoga walls but it is also possible to make one at home if you’re handy with tools. Or know someone that is. Mine is repurposed from the yoga studio when it closed in 2020. We had to remove it ourselves and re-install it at home. Plus it means I get to keep a piece of the yoga studio at home forever!
Why use a yoga wall?
Many people see yoga props and think they just make poses easier. Well, let me tell you that this is not always the case. And while a yoga wall can provide support and stability it can also challenge you in new and exciting ways. Don’t be fooled this is a workout. There is a fine line between a physical yoga practice and gymnastics/pilates/acrobatics. And that line gets pretty blurry with a yoga wall. So why use a yoga wall? Here are just a few reasons:
- Strengthen and stretch your body in new ways!
- Turns the practice upside down – quite literally
- Allows the joints to feel more supported by providing traction
- Get out of your head – it’s a lesson in trust and overcoming fear
- Challenge your body in new ways
- Can make some poses more accessible
- Offers therapeutic options for those with medical conditions or injuries
- Brings new life into a stagnant practice
- Deepens your practice and poses
- Versatile for so many poses, stretches, exercises and more!
- It’s FUN!
Honestly for me the last one there is key. It’s very freeing just hanging essentially from a strip of rope attached to a glorified plank of wood! My own personal restriction is mental, not physical. I have a hard time trusting the wall (and myself) so it’s a huge lesson in trust while having fun!
Equipment and poses with a yoga wall
Looking at the wall you can see the circular attachment sites for equipment. While there are many types of equipment for these walls I can only show you the ones I have and that is a barre, belt, and the very versatile loop. Beginning with the yoga wall barre. This is basically turning your wall into a ballet barre. You can do your barre and pilates classes, stretch on it and hang from it. It’s actually pretty versatile.
Next up is my favorite, the belt. This is essentially like a LONG yoga strap but with yoga wall attachments and a comfy padded mid-section. This makes downward-facing dog feel SO GOOD.
Having the support of the belt and wall means more traction and more fun things available. This means you get to learn a lesson in trusting the wall (and the person that installed it!) in fun poses like backbends and inversions. My favorites are pretending to be spiderman or superman!
There are straps that have wall attachments but I don’t have one. However, I do have a couple of spare ball loop attachments which means as long as I can loop it through the hole it’s a yoga wall option! So I simply thread my straps through that, tie them, and viola! Yoga wall strap.
This is perfect for side stretches. But, my favorite use for straps is traction for the back leg in standing poses like triangle or pyramid. Feels so good!
How to use a yoga wall for fitness
As I said that little loop attachment opens up opportunities. If it can slip through the loop then it can attach to my anchor point. This means I get to use my resistance bands with my yoga wall. Effectively turning my yoga wall into a cable machine you’d see at the gym. Just with fewer vertical anchor points.
The biggest reason I am happy I invested in the little loops is that I can use my TRX suspension trainer and rip trainer. Previously I’d been using these outdoors or in the door frame, now I have a permanent (and more secure) anchor point for my fitness equipment!
So, do you feel a bit more clued in as to what a yoga wall is? Any questions about this or other topics then leave them in the comments!
Also for those interested here are the links to products in this post:
- TRX suspension trainer
- TRX rip trainer
- yoga Mat
- Resistance Bands
- Green Yoga Pants
- Sage Yoga Tank
- Yoga Wall Website and Products
Like this post? PIN it to share with others!
Want more?
If you’re looking for real yoga for real bodies, consider joining my Patreon. Each month I release two yoga classes exclusively for my Patreon community. On the other hand, other ways to find more yoga with me are signing up for my 7-day yoga challenge, or subscribing to my YouTube channel. Remember you can get your reminder to practice more with my “do more yoga” t-shirt.
Questions
- Have you ever seen or used a yoga wall?
- Which exercises looks the most fun?
- Do you think you’d enjoy using a yoga wall?
Somatic Yoga for Feet and Ankles using a tissue!